Headline Numbers
Top party in each age groupGrouped Bar Chart — All Age Groups
Voting intention % by age cohort, May 2026Full Age Breakdown Table
| Age Group | Labour | Reform | Con | Lib Dem | Green | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 22% | 8% | 9% | 14% | 28% | Green |
| 25-34 | 24% | 14% | 12% | 11% | 22% | Labour |
| 35-44 | 20% | 22% | 16% | 12% | 18% | Reform |
| 45-54 | 18% | 28% | 20% | 10% | 12% | Reform |
| 55-64 | 15% | 32% | 22% | 10% | 8% | Reform |
| 65+ | 14% | 35% | 28% | 9% | 5% | Reform |
Generational Divide: Analysis
The Youngest Voters: Green and Labour Territory
Among 18-24 year olds, the Green Party has surged to 28% — the highest of any party in any age group. Labour sits second on 22%, with the Liberal Democrats third at 14%. Reform UK scores a mere 8% among the youngest cohort, a figure that will concern Nigel Farage given the party’s reliance on older, culturally conservative voters.
The 25-34 bracket remains contested ground. Labour edges ahead on 24%, with the Greens close on 22%. Reform’s showing rises to 14% — a near-doubling compared to 18-24s — suggesting that economic concerns around wages and housing begin to shift younger voters rightward as they enter their late twenties.
The Pivot Generation: 35–44
Age 35-44 is the inflection point in UK politics. Reform UK narrowly leads on 22% — the first age group where they top the poll — with Labour falling to 20% and the Greens at 18%. This cohort came of political age during the 2008 financial crisis and stagnant wage growth of the 2010s, many shifting away from Labour allegiance toward anti-establishment alternatives.
Older Britain: Overwhelmingly Reform
Among 45-54 year olds, Reform dominates at 28%, ahead of Conservatives on 20% and Labour on 18%. The 55-64 group is starker: Reform 32%, Conservatives 22%, Labour only 15%. Among over-65s — the highest-turnout cohort — Reform leads at 35%, Conservatives on 28%, Labour reduced to 14%.
Since older voters turn out at significantly higher rates, this age gradient creates a structural advantage for Reform. Under First Past the Post, the concentration of Reform support among over-55s in Leave-voting English constituencies could translate into substantial seat gains without a plurality of the overall vote.
Related Demographic Breakdowns
Frequently Asked Questions
Which party leads among young voters in the UK?
Among 18-24 year olds, the Green Party leads at 28%, followed by Labour at 22% and the Liberal Democrats at 14%. Reform UK scores only 8% with the youngest voters — support concentrated among the over-55 population.
Why do older voters favour Reform UK?
Reform polls at 35% among over-65s and 32% among 55-64 year olds in May 2026. Older voters prioritise immigration control and national sovereignty — core Reform issues — while holding more sceptical views on climate policy and Net Zero commitments.
At what age does Reform begin to lead?
The 35-44 age bracket is the crossover point. Reform first leads on 22% in this cohort, narrowly ahead of Labour on 20%. Below this age, Labour or the Greens lead; above it, Reform dominates with increasing margins through to the oldest voters.
Understanding the Age Gap: A Generational Realignment
The scale of the age divergence in May 2026 British polling is unprecedented in the modern era. The Green Party leading among 18–24 year olds at 28% — ahead of Labour at 22% — would have been unthinkable just two years ago when Labour won the 2024 General Election with strong youth support. The shift reflects a generation of voters who are deeply concerned about climate change, housing costs, and economic inequality, and who feel that Keir Starmer's government has not moved boldly enough on any of these issues since taking power.
At the other end of the age spectrum, Reform UK's 35% among over-65s represents the continuation of a trend visible since Brexit: older voters prioritising national sovereignty, immigration control, and scepticism about green energy costs. These voters largely backed the Conservatives under Boris Johnson in 2019 but have switched to Reform, which they see as more credible on these issues. The regional analysis shows that this older-voter Reform coalition is geographically distributed across rural and small-town England, creating a formidable base for the party.
The cross-over point at the 35–44 age bracket — where Reform UK first leads narrowly on 22% versus Labour on 20% — is politically significant. This cohort includes many homeowners who benefited from rising property values under the Conservatives but are now concerned about mortgage rates and economic stagnation. They are not attracted to the Greens' more radical policy platform but they are equally dissatisfied with Labour's economic management. The leader approval tracking shows this demographic as one of the most negative about Starmer's leadership, contributing significantly to his −44 net rating. For the 2029 General Election, Labour needs to win back a substantial portion of this 35–54 cohort while retaining its youth support — a very challenging political task. The NHS and economy will be the primary battlegrounds, as these mid-age cohorts consistently rank them as their top voting issues.
Video: The demographic breakdown of the Labour vote collapse and Reform UK surge — understanding which age groups are driving the most dramatic polling shifts since the 2024 General Election.
For broader context on generational voting patterns in British politics, Wikipedia's analysis of age and political views in the UK provides historical data on how the age gap in British party support has widened over recent decades.
Explore More Polling Data
Voting Intention
National voting intention polling: Reform UK 28%, Conservatives 19%, Labour 18%, Greens 15%, Lib Dems 13%.
Polling by Region
How voting intention breaks down across England, Scotland, Wales and all UK regions.
General Election 2029
Seat projections for 2029 based on current age-weighted voting intention models.